KAMPALA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Uganda has started frantic diplomatic efforts aimed at garnering international support to end fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that has displaced tens of thousands of people.
The East African country on Thursday convened a meeting of all foreign envoys accredited to the country to brief them on the resolutions of the Great Lakes region heads of state who concluded a two-day summit here on Wednesday.
The leaders resolved to create a neutral regional force to fight negative forces in eastern DRC including M23 rebels who have been fighting the Congolese army, sparking off a refugee influx in neighboring countries.
Setting up of the neutral force will require support from the African Union (AU) and the UN Security Council (UNSC) which has the responsibility of ensuring international peace and security.
"At this moment, we need broader political support and transparency. We have been mandated to provide support on diplomatic level, market the declaration and get it explained to the AU and the UN for political support," James Mugume, permanent secretary of Uganda's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told Xinhua in an interview shortly after the diplomats' meeting.
Mugume said there is the UN peacekeeping force in eastern DRC, MONUSCO (United Nations Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo), but it has no mandate to hunt down the negative forces.
"You have to be very careful because you cannot challenge the Security Council because this is their responsibility. You need to discuss with them that you (MONUSCO) have had the mandate, resources but the problem remains," he said.
Mugume said that the envoys have been also requested to ask their countries to contribute to the trust fund which was established by the regional leaders to provide humanitarian assistance to the victims of fighting.
Renewed fighting in eastern DRC has forced tens of thousands of Congolese to flee into Uganda.
Their influx, according to the Ugandan government, is limiting the provision of social services.
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